‘Absolutely ridiculous’: Kurt Capewell penalised over late tackle before kicker kicks ball

NRL fans have hit out over a bizarre moment an NRL crackdown reached a crazy new level in the Warriors’ win over the Tigers.

All season long the NRL has been cracking down on contact on the kicker — but this is getting ridiculous.

In the Warriors’ 28-16 win over the Tigers, which kept New Zealand’s finals hopes alive, backrower Kurt Capewell was penalised for a late tackle despite making contact before Tigers rookie half Latu Fainu had actually kicked the ball.

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It was five minutes into the second half with the Warriors leading 14-0 when Fainu put up a midfield bomb.

Capewell ran in from marker and tossed the youngster onto the ground as the kick went up.

But referee Peter Gough called late contact as soon as the ball went into the air.

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss initially believed it was pretty line ball.

“It looked a closely run race, that’s the argument Capewell’s going to say, ‘I got there as he kicked it’. But if he’s in the air …” Voss said before he realised Capewell reached Fainu before the kick.

“His hand’s on him before he goes in the air. No, it’s the Tigers blokes who are kicking it too late and the defender’s already got to him before he launches the kick.

“That’s a tough penalty on Capewell — he was doing his work. He got there.

“That’s not how it should work.”

Capewell was there before the kick. Photo: Fox Sports

Capewell was first. Photo: Fox Sports

It’s the trend of the season as the NRL tries to protect the kickers as they leave the ground after putting in a kick.

The season hit its mind-meltingly bizarre peak earlier in the year when Storm captain Harry Grant barely grazed the foot of Sharks half Daniel Atkinson after a kick, was sin binned and had to go to the judiciary to overrule a $1000 fine.

It drew the line in the sand, but the latest decision has raised more eyebrows as apparently defenders can’t even make contact before they’ve kicked the ball.

Reporter Curtis Woodward tweeted: “That’s not a penalty against Capewell.”

Eels website The Cumberland Throw posted: “Gees that’s an average penalty on Capewell.”

One fan wrote: “This is 2024. Please do not attempt to tackle.”

Another posted: “What about Capewell with the kicker…. horrible call.”

Another commented: “That Capewell penalty was pathetic, the @NRL is slowly turning into union. Absolutely ridiculous.”

A fourth added: “That penalty is ridiculous. Capewell had the player before he even kicked it.”

While the Tigers closed in on the Warriors with two tries soon after to make it interesting, New Zealand blew out the scoreline with two more tries late in the match.

Addin Fonua-Blake inspired the Warriors, as the Cronulla-bound front-rower ripped the Tigers’ middle defence to shreds, with his 225m, six tackle busts, two line breaks and a try in the final 10 minutes to ensure victory for his side.

It was no coincidence the Warriors scored all of their points with Fonua-Blake on the paddock, and that the Tigers scored two of their three tries when he was warming the bench.

With Jack Brady, NewsWire